Holding device and diaper system utilizing such device

ABSTRACT

A holding device for retaining an elongated absorbent pad to a supporting garment, the absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to the center region by securing tacks. The holding device has a securing section which is secured to a forward marginal edge of the supporting garment. A stem portion is integrally formed with the securing section and extends in a rearward direction toward a rearward marginal edge of the supporting garment. The stem portion terminates in laterally extending members which are adapted to be positioned between the side regions and the center region of the absorbent pad, and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with the securing tacks.

United States Patent Jarusik et a1. a

[15] 3,693,621 51 Se t. 26, 1972 [54] HOLDING DEVICE AND DIAPER SYSTEM UTILIZING SUCH DEVICE [72] Inventors: Paul Jarusik, Wilmington, DeL; Alexander Pociluyko, Glen Mills, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Scott Paper Company, Delaware County, Pa.

[22] Filed: Dec. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 101,292

[52] U.S. Cl ..128/287 [51] Int. Cl. ..A6l1 13/16 [58] Field of Search ..128/28729l [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,013,436 9/1935 Downing ..'...128/287 2,541,629 2/1951 Woods ..128/289 2,967,526 1/1961 Olson ..128/287 6/1962 Wilson 128/287 Primary Examiner-Charles F. Rosenbaum Attorney-William J. Foley, Martin L. Faigus, John W. Kane, Jr. and John A. Weygandt [5 7] 4 ABSTRACT A holding device for retainingan elongated absorbent pad to a supporting garment, the absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to the center region by securing tacks. The holding device has a securing section which is secured to a forward marginal edge of the supporting garment. A stem portion is integrally formed with the securing section and extends in a rearward direction. toward a rearward marginal edge of the supporting garment. The stem portion terminates in laterally extending members which are adapted to be positioned between the side regions and the center region of the absorbent pad, and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with the securing tacks.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDsarzs m2 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTORS. Poul dorusik Alex Poci luy ko ATTORNEY.

PATENTEDSEP26 1972 SHEET 2 OF 2 I N VENTORS Poul Jorusik Alex Pociluyko ATTIORNEY HOLDING DEVICE AND DIAPER SYSTEM UTILIZING SUCII DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Diaper systems which have a fluid impervious supporting garment and an absorbent pad attached thereto are well known. The supporting garment usually has fastening means associated with it for permitting the supporting garment to be fastened in proper position on a baby without the use of pins. An absorbent pad is positioned on the supporting garment and provides a disposable absorbent element which can be removed from the supporting garment after use and thrown away. i

Several prior art constructions exist for retaining a disposable absorbent pad in a fluid impervious supporting garment. In one system, a pocket made from a suitable plastic material, such as polypropylene, is stitched to the supporting garment along a forward marginal edge and longitudinally extending side edges to define an opening into the pocket from the rearward direction. An end of an absorbent pad is inserted into the pocket, and the pocket is relied upon to hold the pad in the proper relationship with respect to the garment during use. In this system the end of the pad often slips out of the pocket during attachment of the diaper system to a child, which results in the pad being improperly positioned on the supporting garment during use. The improper positioning of the pad on the supporting garment results in an undesirable leakage problem. To prevent the end of the absorbent pad from slipping out of the pocket, the pocket of the panty and the end of the pad extending into the pocket must be grasped during the positioning of the panty in its proper location on a child. If the person diapering a child releases the grip on the pocket and absorbent panty too soon the pad may slip out of the pocket and thereby become improperly located, whereby urine and fecal matter will tend to leak from the diaper system. Even when the pad is in proper position within the pocket when the diaper system is fastened to a baby, the pad may slip out of the pocket during use to thereby create a leakage problem. The slippage during use can result from nominal movements of a child or as a result of weight added to the pad from urine and fecal matter. An additional disadvantage of the pocket retention system is that the absorbent pad tends to ball up, i.e. rope or clump, during use and thereby create an uncomfortable, bulky structure for a child to wear. In addition, clumping causes a break up of fluff in an absorbent pad to thereby decrease the effectiveness of the pad.

An additional prior art holding device for retaining a disposable absorbent pad to a supporting garment is suggested in US. Pat. No. Re. 23,853. This holding device consists of a tab of flexible material secured to one end of the supporting garment, and this tab has a die-cut therethrough to form a flap which is relatively movable with respect to the remaining portion of the tab to clamp the disposable absorbent pad in its proper position within the supporting garment. This holding device is deficient because the flap may become weakened after repeated usage, and therefore fail to perform its desired clamping function. In addition, this type of holding device, i.e., one having relatively movable clamping elements, is difficult to manipulate to clamp the pad.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a holding device which is adapted to be attached to the forward marginal edge of a supporting garment to cooperate with an elongated absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to the center region by padsecuring means, such as adhesive tacks. The holding device has a stern portion terminating at a forward end in a section which is adapted to be secured to the supporting garment, and terminating at a rearward end in a cross member. The cross member has laterally extending pad-retaining members which terminate in forwardly directed, marginal flanges. The pad-retaining members are adapted to be positioned between the side regions and the center region of the pad, and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with the pad-securing tack means, whereby the padretaining members will engage the pad-securing tack means to prevent dislodgement of the absorbent pad from the supporting garment. The forwardly directed marginal flanges partially encircle the tack means for engaging the tack means when transverse forces are transmitted to the pad during use to prevent separation of the absorbent pad from the supporting garment. A forward section of the stern portion is thinner than a rearward section of the stem portion, the pad-retaining members and the marginal flanges. The thicker portions of the holding device have sufficient longitudinal and transverse rigidity to retain the absorbent pad within the supporting garment during use of the diaper system. The thinner forward section of the stem portion defines a flexure region in which the holding device can be twisted to easily insert the cross member in operative position with respect to the absorbent pad. To further stabilize, or rigidify the holding device, a thickened rib section is formed adjacent to the mar ginal edges of the rearward section of the stem portion and the marginal edges of the laterally extending members. This thickened rib section also defines a smooth rounded marginal edge to insure that any contact of this edge with a child will not cut, or otherwise injure the child. Furthermore, the rearward edge of the holding device has a concave curvature to insure that the holding device will not come in contact with the penis of a baby boy.

The holding device of this invention is free of relatively movable clamping elements which could weaken after repreated usage. In addition, the device of this invention has been found to be easier to manipulate than holding devices having relatively movable clamping elements.

The holding device of this invention is extremely reliable in operation, and does not require a person diapering a child to maintain a grip on the absorbent pad to insure that the pad is retained in proper position on the supporting garment. Therefore, the diaper system does not have to be held in any specific manner during the diapering operation,which gives a greater degree of flexibility to the person who is diapering the child.

This invention also relates to the combination of the above-described holding device with a supporting garment for a disposable, absorbent pad.

This invention further relates to the combination of a complete diapering system including: (1) a supporting garment for a disposable absorbent pad; (2) a disposable absorbent pad having side regions folded over, and

secured to a center region through suitable pad securing means such as adhesive tacks; and (3) the abovedescribed holding device secured to the supporting garment and disposed in operative, pad-retaining position between the'side regions and the center region of the absorbent pad.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof, when read with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example a presently preferred form of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is aplan view of a supporting garment for a disposable absorbent pad with the holding device secured to the supporting garment;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the diaper system of this invention with an elongated absorbent pad disposed in operative position on a supporting garment;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary exploded plan view of the region designated as 3 in FIG. with a portion of the pad removed to show details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the holding device of this invention showing details of the front surface of the holding device; and

FIG. 7 is an isometric view showing details of the back surface of the holding device.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIG. 2, a diaper system 10 is shown which utilizes the unique holding device of this invention. The diaper system 10 is comprised of a supporting garment 12 and an elongated disposable absorbent pad 14.

The supporting garment 12 preferably is made from a fluid impervious, flexible sheet material, such as polyethylene, polypropylene, or polyvinyl chloride. The garment 12 has a forward marginal edge 16 adapted to be positioned around the front area of a child, and a rearward marginal edge 18 adapted to be positioned around the rear area of a child (FIG. 1). A forward region 20 of the supporting garment 12 is interconnected tov a rearward region 22 through an intermediate region 24. The intermediate region 24 has a reduced transverse dimension defining the crotch and thigh encircling region of the supporting garment 12. Opposite transverse edges of the forward region 20 are provided with male snap elements 26, 28, which are adapted to cooperate with opposed female snaps 30, 32, respectfully, which are disposed adjacent opposite transverse edges of the rearward region 22 to fasten the garment 12 on a child (FIGS. 1 and 2). Any suitable fastening means can be utilized in place of the snap fastening means; the particular fastening means not forming a part of this invention. To insure that the impervious supporting garment l2 closely conforms to the legs and waist regions of a child, elastic material is fastened adjacent the forward marginal edge 16, the

rearward marginal edge 18 and opposed longitudinal edges 34, 36 defining the intermediate region 24 of the supporting garment.

Referring to FIGS. 2-5, the details of construction of the elongated disposable absorbent pad 14 will be described. The absorbent pad 14 is substantially rectangular, and can be made from well-known absorbent materials. For example, the absorbent pad 14 can be made form a fiberized wood pulp lap, in the form of an absorbent fluff center section, which is wrapped in a suitable cover sheetto provide structural integrity to the pad system. Nonwoven cover sheets, or cover sheets of cellulosic webs have been successfully utilized. Also, the absorbent pad 14 can be constructed of a plurality of plies of creped cellulosic webs instead of a fluff center section. The specific elements making up the absorbent pad 14 do not form a part of the present invention.

As can be seen in FIGS. 2-4, the absorbent pad 14 is substantially rectangular in configuration, and is defined by elongated side regions 40, 42 which are folded over an elongated center region 44 along longitudinal fold lines 46, 48, respectively. The side regions are maintained in their folded relationship by suitable pad-securing tack means 50, 52 (FIGS. 3 and 4) which in the preferred arrangement are provided by any suitable adhesive such as polyvinyl acetate, latex emulsions, and the like. The adhesive tacks 50, 52, bond together adjacent facing surfaces of the center region and the side regions a short distance rearwardly of forward edge 51 (FIGS. 2 and 3). These pads are commercially available and are manufactured by Scott Paper Company, under its trademark babyScott. In use, the rear portion of the pad is manually flared open, as is shown in FIG. 2, to provide a wide confining region for feces. This wide region is desirable to prevent soiling of the supporting garment and to prevent the feces from escaping from the diaper. The wide confining structure of the absorbent pad is not required in the forward portion of the diaper into which urine is initially directed, and this portion remains folded during use to provide a high absorptive capacity for urine. Applicants unique holding device can be utilized with the absorbent pad described above, with the distinct advantage that no modifications to such absorbent pad are required.

Applicants unique holding device 60 is fastened by any suitable means, such as stitching 62 (FIGS. 3 and 5), thermo-bonding, or the like, to the forward mar- I ginal edge 16 of the supporting garment to cooperate with the folded and tacked absorbent pad 14. The holding device 60 preferably is made as a single molded unit from any suitable material, such as polypropylene, polyethylene, or polyvinyl chloride. In addition to the above plastics, other materials having sufficient rigidity to retain the pad in proper position within the supporting garment can be utilized.

The holding device 60 is of a unitary construction having a forward elongated securing section 63, a stem portion 66 extending rearwardly in a substantially perpendicular direction from said securing section and terminating in a cross member 68. The cross member 68 is comprised of laterally extending pad-retaining members 70, 72 terminating in forwardly directed circular flanges 80, 82. The securing section 63 is sufficiently thin to permit its attachment to the forward marginal edge 16 of the supporting garment by stitching 62 (FIGS. 3 and 5) provided by a standard sewing operation.

The stem portion 66 has a forward section 88 which is integrally formed with the securing section 63, and a rearward section 90 which is integrally formed with the laterally extending pad-retaining members 70, 72 of the cross member 68. As can be seen in FIGS. 5-7, the rearward section 90 of the stem portion, the pad-retaining members 70, 72, and the flanges 80, 82 are thicker than the forward section 88 of the stem portion and the securing section 63. In addition, the back surface 91 of the holding device, i.e., that surface which is disposed in facing relationship to the supporting garment 12, is formed with a rigidifying rib section 92 formed along the marginal edges of the cross member 68 and the rearward section 90 of the stern portion. The thickened and ribbed sections of the holding device are sufficiently rigid so as not to excessively flex under loads encountered during use of the diaper system. Excessive flexure would result in a separation of the holding device from the securing tack means of the absorbent pad 14. The rib section 92 defines a smooth rounded edge surface 96 (FIG. 5) to insure that any contact of this edge surface 96 with a child will not cause any injuries. The rear portion 98 of the edge surface 96 is formed in a concave configuration (FIGS. 6 and 7) to insure that the holding device will not engage the penis of a boy baby during use. The forward section 88 of the stem portion is sufficiently thin to provide a flexure area about which the lower stem section and cross member can be twisted to dispose the cross member in its pad-retaining position which will be described hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, the operation of the holding device of this invention will now be described. The elongated absorbent pad 14 is initially inserted between the holding device 60 and the supporting garment 12 with the forward edge 51 of the pad adjacent to the forward edge 16 of the supporting garment. The absorbent pad 14 can be shifted in transverse and longitudinal directions, and the holding device 60 can be flexed in the forward stem section 88 to insert the pad-retaining members 70, 72 of the cross member 68 between the center region 44 of the absorbent pad and the elongated side regions 40, 42 respectively. The cross member is disposed rearwardly of the adhesive tacks 50, 52, such that the pad-retaining members 70, 72 overlie such adhesive tacks. The forwardly directed circular flanges 80, 82 partially encircle the adhesive tacks' to prevent the separation of the absorbent pad from the holding device under transverse load conditions'. As can be clearly seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, the absorbent pad 14 is confined against movement in a rearward direction by the engagement of the adhesive tacks with the pad-retaining members 70, 72.

What is claimed is: 1. In a diaper system: a. an elongated supporting garment terminating in opposed forward and rearward marginal edges; 7

b. a holding device connected to said supporting garment adjacent said forward marginal edge and adapted to retain, in a desired position relative to said supporting garment, an elongated absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to said center region by pad-securing tack means;

0. said holding device comprising a stem portion extending rearwardly of said forward marginal edge and terminating in laterally extending pad-retaining members, said pad-retaining members being adapted to be positioned between the side regions and the center region of the pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with the pad-securing tack means whereby said pad-retaining members can engage said tack means toretain said pad in a desired position relative to said garment.

2. The diaper system according to claim 1, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to aid supporting garment.

3. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said pad-retaining members terminate in forwardly directed flange means which are adapted to partially encircle the pad-securing tack means of the absorbent pad.

4. The diaper system according to claim 3, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said pad-securing tack means, the forwardly directed flange means partially encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the desired position relative to said garment.

5. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said stern portion has a forward section adjacent said forward marginal edge of the supporting garment and a rearward section extending from said forward section toward the rearward marginal edge of said garment and terminating in said pad-retaining members, the rearward section of said stem portion and said pad-retaining members being thicker than the forward section of said stem portion for providing sufficient longitudinal and transverse rigidity to the holding device in the region thereof which is adapted to be positioned between the side regions and center region of the absorbent pad for retaining the pad in the desired position relative to said supporting garment during use, the forward section of said stem being sufficiently flexible for permitting flexing of the stern portion to easily assemble the pad with said supporting garment.

6. The diaper system according to claim 5, in cornbination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to said garment. 7. The diaper system according to claim 5, wherein a rigidifying rib section is integrally formed adjacent marginal edges of the rearward section of said stern and said pad-retaining members.

8. The diaper system according to claim 7, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding means being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said securing tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to said garments.

bination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means, the forwardly directed flange portions partially encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the desired position relative to said garment. 

1. In a diaper system: a. an elongated supporting garment terminating in opposed forward and rearward marginal edges; b. a holding device connected to said supporting garment adjacent said forward marginal edge and adapted to retain, in a desired position relative to said supporting garment, an elongated absorbent pad having elongated side regions folded over an elongated center region and secured to said center region by pad-securing tack means; c. said holding device comprising a stem portion extending rearwardly of said forward marginal edge and terminating in laterally extending pad-retaining members, said pad-retaining members being adapted to be positioned between the side regions and the center region of the pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with the pad-securing tack means whereby said pad-retaining members can engage said tack means to retain said pad in a desired position relative to said garment.
 2. The diaper system according to claim 1, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to aid supporting garment.
 3. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said pad-retaining members terminate in forwardly directed flange means which are adapted to partially encircle the pad-securing tack means of the absorbent pad.
 4. The diaper system according to claim 3, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said pad-securing tack means, the forwardly directed flange means partially encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the desired position relative to said garment.
 5. The diaper system according to claim 1, wherein said stem portion has a forward section adjacent said forward marginal edge of the supporting garment and a rearward section extending from said forward section toward the rearward marginal edge of said garment and terminating in said pad-retaining members, the rearward section of said stem portion and said pad-retaining members being thicker than the forward section of said stem portion for providing sufficient longitudinal and transverse rigidity to the holding device in the region thereof which is adapted to be positioned between the side regions and center region of the absorbent pad for retAining the pad in the desired position relative to said supporting garment during use, the forward section of said stem being sufficiently flexible for permitting flexing of the stem portion to easily assemble the pad with said supporting garment.
 6. The diaper system according to claim 5, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to said garment.
 7. The diaper system according to claim 5, wherein a rigidifying rib section is integrally formed adjacent marginal edges of the rearward section of said stem and said pad-retaining members.
 8. The diaper system according to claim 7, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding means being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said securing tack means for retaining said pad in a desired position relative to said garments.
 9. The diaper system according to claim 5, wherein said pad-retaining members terminate in forwardly directed flange portions which are adapted to partially encircle the tack means of the absorbent pad.
 10. The diaper system according to claim 9, wherein a rigidifying rib section is integrally formed adjacent marginal edges of the rearward section of said stem, said pad-retaining members and said flange portions.
 11. The diaper system according to claim 10, in combination with said absorbent pad, said pad-retaining members of said holding device being disposed between the side regions and center region of said pad and rearwardly of and in overlying relationship with said tack means, the forwardly directed flange portions partially encircling said tack means for retaining said pad in the desired position relative to said garment. 